                              #_(.threadingMode ThreadingMode/DEDICATED)
                              #_(.dirsDeleteOnExit true))))
 
-          port (opts->port opts)
           bind-addr (common/bind-addr opts)
           external-addr (common/external-addr opts)
+          port (opts->port opts)
+          external-channel (aeron-channel external-addr port)
           idle-strategy-config (arg-or-default :onyx.messaging.aeron/idle-strategy opts) 
           send-idle-strategy (backoff-strategy idle-strategy-config)
           receive-idle-strategy (backoff-strategy idle-strategy-config)

    (let [config (:config peer-group)
          messaging-group (:messaging-group peer-group)
          publications (:publications messaging-group)
          inbound-ch (:inbound-ch (:messenger-buffer component))
          release-ch (chan (sliding-buffer (arg-or-default :onyx.messaging/release-ch-buffer-size config)))
          retry-ch (chan (sliding-buffer (arg-or-default :onyx.messaging/retry-ch-buffer-size config)))

      (assoc component 
             :bind-addr bind-addr
             :external-addr external-addr
             :external-channel external-channel
             :port port
             :media-driver media-driver 
             :publications publications
